Sermon Tone Analysis

Because of Jesus, Paul begs the church to be like Jesus by thinking like Jesus.

Good morning, Gateway Chapel!

Scripture

Prayer

Intro

It’s good to be back with you all!

As you can see I’m wearing my Acts29 swag from a conference that Rayce Whitson and I attended nearly two weeks ago.

I think I brought back a shirt and COVID so thank you for your prayers for me and my family we are doing much better.

Rayce didn’t get it cuz he has more muscles than me I think is what the doctors said.

The conference was great, as you guys know we partner prayerfully and financially with Acts29 because of our shared theological and missional convictions that because of Jesus…we are a part of the grand story of God.

And that grand story of God involves local churches linking arms to plant more churches and make more disciples who hear, love, and obey Jesus.

I was encouraged by the reminder that there is nothing better to be a part of than the church.

Jesus loves the church.

Death cannot stop the church.

And even though in the Pacific Northwest we live in a post-Christian, maybe a never-Christian context (although here in the south sound we live in as close to the Bible belt as you can be in the Puget Sound) God is moving around the world.

Churches are exploding in places like Brazil and Africa, and we even made good friends with pastors of churches in Ireland, where the gospel soil is even harder than here but those men and women are working to make disciples for generations to come.

So had does that affect you?

Every month you give to Gateway Chapel, 3% of that goes to Acts29 to help plant churches so people around the world can have what you have here: belonging, being fed from God’s word, support, and experiencing the love of Jesus.

And I brought back some books!

I have three books from the conference: Before you share your faith, Before you open your Bible, and Love your Church by Tony Merida.

These are free on the Lending Library.

I remember where I was when we realized COVID was going to change our lives.

Do you remember?

It’s like this generation’s 9/11.

It was February 29th, I looked back in my calendar.

It was a Saturday, and I was holding my one week old daughter watching golf, just starting the discipleship process with her.

And I’m watching golf on King5, and all of the sudden it says, “We interrupt this program for breaking news...” And on the screen is that fateful press conference where they announced the first death from COVID-19 just up the road at the LifeCare facility in Kirkland.

And I’m just sitting there, holding Isabelle thinking, “Things are going to change…"

Because of COVID, so much has changed.

It is a clear marker in the 21st century that resulted in a change in how we do so many things.

In a way far more joyful, powerful, and eternal, the Christian worldview sees the cross as the moment when everything truly changed.

Because of Jesus, nothing is ever the same.

While there are pivotal moments in history, 9/11, COVID, the Mariners comeback win against the Blue Jays last week…nothing rewrites the very fabric of the universe like Jesus did when he died and rose again.

Because of Jesus…that’s the title of our new series we’re in, and essentially it’s how we’re couching the entire New Testament.

We’re finishing up our Year of Biblical Exploration, and we’re in the New Testament, which essentially looks at life and says “Because of Jesus…here’s how we live.”

Here’s a super simple drawing of the story of the Bible.

The Old Testament points forward to the Messiah who would come to restore God’s world.

The New Testament points back to him and says “Because of Jesus…here’s how the story unfolds.

Because of Jesus, here’s how we live.”

So to see how the New Testament does this, we’re going to spend some time in Romans 12. Romans 12 is a famous “Because of Jesus” passage where Paul transitions in his letter from doctrine to practice.

It’s fitting too because if you remember Gene Poppino preached on Romans 12 back in 2020 right when COVID started so it ties in with our opening illustration this morning.

Because of Jesus…here is how we are to live as the people of God.

And we’re beginning this morning in Romans 12:1-2 where Paul says “Because of Jesus, let’s live like Jesus.”

How do we do that?

Let’s look at the passage together.

Prayer

Like moths to a flame we’ve been hovering around Romans a lot lately, and for good reason.

Romans is perhaps the greatest letter ever written because its subject is the greatest subject: God and his gospel, and its writer is perhaps the most influential writer in world history: Paul the apostle.

Paul is going to do in Romans 12 what he does frequently in his letters, make a transition in thought from “Because of Jesus” to “Therefore…here’s how we live.”

He does this in Gal 5, Eph 4, Phil 2, Col 3, to name a few.

Some people think the Bible is a serious of if/then statements.

If you obey these rules, then you’ll be loved.

If you read your Bible, then you’ll be a good Christian.

If you don’t swear...

But really, the Bible and Romans is more a series of Because/Therefore statements.

Because Jesus died, rose again, and gave us his spirit, therefore we can live godly lives.

Because Jesus gave himself for us, therefore we don’t have to give ourselves to sin.

If we’re not careful, we can open to passages like that and read statements on morality like, “Don’t get drunk” or “Don’t have coarse humor” or “Don’t sleep around” and think, “Great the NT is just a new list of rules.”

The Bible is not a book of rules.

It’s not a book meant to control you.

To take you from being dirty and mean and out of control, and put you in a uniform and place you in a nice and clean and presentable box.

In the words of NT Wright, we have boxes to put people in and they’re called coffins.

The Bible is not primarily rules but a story about a God who because of Jesus, frees us and brings us into his family, and allows to live, think, and love like we were meant to.

Let’s turn to Romans 12...

Romans 12:1 (ESV)

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God...

Paul is speaking to men and women of the church, and says “I appeal to you therefore.”

We always ask ourselves, “What is the therefore there for?”

Like starting the Harry Potter series with the 5th of 7 books, we’re starting Romans in the 12th of 16 chapters.

Throughout Romans, Paul is writing a Christian manifesto on the gospel.

Here’s some famous texts to name just a few:

And like a gospel freight train, Paul is gaining momentum until he reaches a crescendo in Romans 11.

There is much more to Romans, but Paul is hammering the “Because of Jesus!” drum.

Look at who he is and what he has done.

I appeal to you brothers and sisters…by the mercies of God.

What are the mercies of God?

The compassion and kindness of God in Jesus.

Paul is saying, “I appeal to you brothers and sisters, Because of Jesus!”

Other translations say, “Think of God’s mercy!” Do you think on it?

Do you treasure it?

Do you meditate on it?

As I was rereading Romans this week Romans 5 and the goodness of God hit me in a new way.

God allowed me to think on his mercy.

What is Paul’s tone here?

I appeal to you…I beg of you…is he a scolding parent.

“If you don’t do better…then...” No, this isn’t in if/then thing, it’s a because/therefore.

Not, “If you love me…then you will clean your room.”

But, “Because I love you, I want to serve you.”

I think Paul’s appeal is invitational language.

He’s inviting us into the party that’s being thrown because of Jesus.

My mind goes to the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15.

A father has two sons, one son tells him “I wish you were dead!” Runs off, spoils the family wealth on Fantasy Football bets, Gentleman’s clubs, and endless growlers at Top Down brewing.

And he comes to his senses, realizes his need for his father, and turns back for home.

And while he was still a long way off, his father debases himself and runs and kisses him and embraces him and says “My son is home!”

But there’s another son.

And that other son never spent a dime on Fantasy Football, has never looked at porn, and thinks grape juice tastes better than wine, but this son is bitter.

“Why are you throwing a party for my idiot brother?”

And what does the father do...

I entreat you!

I appeal to you! Come in and enjoy the party.